C-reactive protein to initiate or withhold antibiotics in acute respiratory tract infections in adults, in primary care: review.

Background: There is a discrepancy between the incidence of viral pathogens and the frequency of prescribing antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs). Typically, primary care physicians have few possibilities to order sophisticated laboratory tests to help distinguish viral pathogens from bacterial pathogens. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) measurement could help the primary care physician to discriminate more easily between these two conditions, and should contribute to reducing unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics during the first patient consultation.